Daryl Robinson
Winner 2012 AGO
National Young Artists
Competition
in
Organ Performance
Note: The American Guild of Organists promotes the highest level of organ performance through its National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance. The Competition is intended to serve as a springboard for emerging organists to develop their performance ability by participating in the various demanding stages of this Competition.
Jeannine: First, congratulations on this significant achievement. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to get to know you and to share your story and insights into the world of the AGO competitive process. Why don't you start by describing the highlights of your journey as an organist.
Daryl Robinson: I am from Houston, Texas where my earliest musical experience was as an accompanist and singer in theHouston Boy Choir. I attended the High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston as a double bass major, but also had some interesting opportunities to play the organ as part of an orchestra.
I began keyboard studies in an unusual manner, as I started studying the organ before I started formal piano lessons. I was intrigued by the pipe organ in the church I attended and started taking lessons and playing for worship services at age 11. I took my first "official" church position at First Christian in Houston when I was 15. I was the organist at South Main Baptist Church for nine years and am currently the Organist and Music Associate at Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston.
I have had the opportunity to study with some wonderful teachers including JoDeen Blaine Davis, Joby Bell, and Robert Bates and Matthew Dirst of the University of Houston where I did my undergraduate studies.
I enjoy solo organ playing a lot, but also have a heart for collaborative playing and conducting. I am the harpsichordist with the Baroque ensemble, Mercury Baroque in Houston and also do quite a bit of conducting now as well.
J: Describe the four-round NYACOP which started in April 2011 and culminated with the final round of the competition in Nashville on July 1, 2012?
Mr. Robinson: It has been a lifelong dream to compete in the AGO Young Artists Competition, so I decided to send in the required recording of a live performance for the preliminary competition in April of 2011. I was thrilled to learn I was one of 22 organists who had been chosen to compete in the first round of the competition.
The first round consisted of a live unedited recording of several pieces. The recording had to be completed by October 14 and It became an obsession with me to record the music with total perfection. I think this was the most grueling round but it really prepared me to go forward in the competition.
There were seven organists chosen for the semi-final round. At this time the competition became very "real" because I realized that not only did I have to prepare the repertoire for the semi-final round but the final round as well in hopes that I would be chosen to advance. The Semi-finals took place on May 25th at the Cleveland Art Museum on the Holtkamp organ there. It was such a unique venue being outside a church environment.
The final round just prior to the start of the Nashville National AGO Convention was an exhilarating trial by fire. Considering the plane on which I traveled to Nashville had to make an emergency landing coming into Nashville, my focus and resolve were tested. I simply took ownership of the music and played in a convincing manner. It was also thrilling in that 18 people including my mom and two sisters traveled from Houston to Nashville to support my work.
J: How did you prepare for this "year-long" competition? What were the joys, frustrations, and challenges of learning the required competition repertoire?
Mr. Robinson: When I looked at the required repertoire list, I was immediately connected to the music. It contained repertoire that I had already played or wanted to learn. Three of the pieces were all pieces that I first became aware of through David Higgs' recording at the Myerson concert hall. When I learned I was in the competition I asked if I might study and prepare for the competition with Dr. Higgs. It was a lifelong dream and experience to study with Dr. Higgs and study this repertoire I had first experienced as a teenager -- it was a full-circle experience.
Preparing for the competition required a lot of personal time and sacrifice. Staying focused and sacrificing in the short-term for long-term success that is one of the most valuable lessons I learned. There were many moments during the year of self-doubt but I had the mind-set that I really had to practice now! I learned I needed to stay focused and be as prepared as I could be. However, I also learned that I had to maintain balance in my life. Time management and budgeting became priorities.
When preparing for the competition I determined that I needed to play somewhat within a "safety box" while still being able to show my personality. The required piece Tanz Toccata by Anton Heiller, was probably the most challenging piece. The Liszt B-A-C-Hpresented creative freedom of orchestration which allowed me to show that I am not just an organist but that I came at this piece from a broader standpoint-- from the orchestral and choral traditionI have.
J: What would you like people to know about your work as a musician?
Mr. Robinson: I try to be as open to new experiences as possible. I believe you broaden your life perspective and your musical perspective when you allow yourself to experience music and life in a creative way. Flexibility, collaboration, and openness is my sermon.
J: Where will 2013 find Daryl Robinson?
Mr. Robinson: I am now working on my Master of Music degree in Organ Performance with Ken Cowen at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. It is a rigorous but fantastic program where the six organ students in the program prepare a memorized piece every week for our organ class. Not only is Mr. Cowen a fantastic, patient, and kind teacher, but there is a also dedicated organ hall with a fantastic organ available for practice and performance.
I will also be concertizing in 2013-2014 and I will be recording a CD at Rice University which will be released in June on the Pro-Organo label. You can find my concert schedule and other information on my website at www.darylrobinson.com/
Winner 2012 AGO
National Young Artists
Competition
in
Organ Performance
Note: The American Guild of Organists promotes the highest level of organ performance through its National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance. The Competition is intended to serve as a springboard for emerging organists to develop their performance ability by participating in the various demanding stages of this Competition.
Jeannine: First, congratulations on this significant achievement. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to get to know you and to share your story and insights into the world of the AGO competitive process. Why don't you start by describing the highlights of your journey as an organist.
Daryl Robinson: I am from Houston, Texas where my earliest musical experience was as an accompanist and singer in theHouston Boy Choir. I attended the High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston as a double bass major, but also had some interesting opportunities to play the organ as part of an orchestra.
I began keyboard studies in an unusual manner, as I started studying the organ before I started formal piano lessons. I was intrigued by the pipe organ in the church I attended and started taking lessons and playing for worship services at age 11. I took my first "official" church position at First Christian in Houston when I was 15. I was the organist at South Main Baptist Church for nine years and am currently the Organist and Music Associate at Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston.
I have had the opportunity to study with some wonderful teachers including JoDeen Blaine Davis, Joby Bell, and Robert Bates and Matthew Dirst of the University of Houston where I did my undergraduate studies.
I enjoy solo organ playing a lot, but also have a heart for collaborative playing and conducting. I am the harpsichordist with the Baroque ensemble, Mercury Baroque in Houston and also do quite a bit of conducting now as well.
J: Describe the four-round NYACOP which started in April 2011 and culminated with the final round of the competition in Nashville on July 1, 2012?
Mr. Robinson: It has been a lifelong dream to compete in the AGO Young Artists Competition, so I decided to send in the required recording of a live performance for the preliminary competition in April of 2011. I was thrilled to learn I was one of 22 organists who had been chosen to compete in the first round of the competition.
The first round consisted of a live unedited recording of several pieces. The recording had to be completed by October 14 and It became an obsession with me to record the music with total perfection. I think this was the most grueling round but it really prepared me to go forward in the competition.
There were seven organists chosen for the semi-final round. At this time the competition became very "real" because I realized that not only did I have to prepare the repertoire for the semi-final round but the final round as well in hopes that I would be chosen to advance. The Semi-finals took place on May 25th at the Cleveland Art Museum on the Holtkamp organ there. It was such a unique venue being outside a church environment.
The final round just prior to the start of the Nashville National AGO Convention was an exhilarating trial by fire. Considering the plane on which I traveled to Nashville had to make an emergency landing coming into Nashville, my focus and resolve were tested. I simply took ownership of the music and played in a convincing manner. It was also thrilling in that 18 people including my mom and two sisters traveled from Houston to Nashville to support my work.
J: How did you prepare for this "year-long" competition? What were the joys, frustrations, and challenges of learning the required competition repertoire?
Mr. Robinson: When I looked at the required repertoire list, I was immediately connected to the music. It contained repertoire that I had already played or wanted to learn. Three of the pieces were all pieces that I first became aware of through David Higgs' recording at the Myerson concert hall. When I learned I was in the competition I asked if I might study and prepare for the competition with Dr. Higgs. It was a lifelong dream and experience to study with Dr. Higgs and study this repertoire I had first experienced as a teenager -- it was a full-circle experience.
Preparing for the competition required a lot of personal time and sacrifice. Staying focused and sacrificing in the short-term for long-term success that is one of the most valuable lessons I learned. There were many moments during the year of self-doubt but I had the mind-set that I really had to practice now! I learned I needed to stay focused and be as prepared as I could be. However, I also learned that I had to maintain balance in my life. Time management and budgeting became priorities.
When preparing for the competition I determined that I needed to play somewhat within a "safety box" while still being able to show my personality. The required piece Tanz Toccata by Anton Heiller, was probably the most challenging piece. The Liszt B-A-C-Hpresented creative freedom of orchestration which allowed me to show that I am not just an organist but that I came at this piece from a broader standpoint-- from the orchestral and choral traditionI have.
J: What would you like people to know about your work as a musician?
Mr. Robinson: I try to be as open to new experiences as possible. I believe you broaden your life perspective and your musical perspective when you allow yourself to experience music and life in a creative way. Flexibility, collaboration, and openness is my sermon.
J: Where will 2013 find Daryl Robinson?
Mr. Robinson: I am now working on my Master of Music degree in Organ Performance with Ken Cowen at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. It is a rigorous but fantastic program where the six organ students in the program prepare a memorized piece every week for our organ class. Not only is Mr. Cowen a fantastic, patient, and kind teacher, but there is a also dedicated organ hall with a fantastic organ available for practice and performance.
I will also be concertizing in 2013-2014 and I will be recording a CD at Rice University which will be released in June on the Pro-Organo label. You can find my concert schedule and other information on my website at www.darylrobinson.com/